Sunday, September 24, 2017

It's tough for me, because I have to drive four hours down and four hours back, but we little comicons out here on the peninsulas need to support each other.

And I'm glad I did!

Not only is it the same wonderful crew at the very nice Silverdale hotel, but I picked up two people interested in tables for the Clallam Bay Comicon. If they do get them, we'll be sold out for 2018 (although I don't mind them subletting tables to other creatives - so long as they let me know they're doing it, so I can put it on the blog page in time).

Sat next to a fun artist named "Blacky" Shephard, who in many ways reminded me of myself in earlier days. Hard-working, snappy patter, good advice and great sense of humor. When I explained how I plot by saying "I was the weird girl in school," he said he'd been the weird girl in school, too.

The photo is me in my Ka-Blam Printing t-shirt. Best little company to produce small-page-count comics at nearly 1980's prices! Since I'm working with Emerald Comics Distribution, they'll be just the thing to send out limited monthly releases of both old and new books. Digital and Dice's Lady Crass was pod-casting all over the show, and this is the one with me in it (Click link). She must have had a magic camera! Blacky and I perform pig stick theater.

The show is too close to get a room, but too far to drive, and make the whole show, before and after daylight. But if I show up a bit late in the morning, I'll be able to stand a dark drive home - especially since I now have anti-glare glasses that will defeat even those pesky halogens on rural roads. I'm also researching airbnbs in Bremerton - which would allow for some very handy erranding (Peninsula folk have to stock up on cheap bulk items like a loading submarine when in town near a CashNCarry).

I'm going to ask OCE if I can just send some backstock and goodies forward for people to see, and even take, and then bring back for me to autograph when I can get there.

One way or the other, I want to make the shows out here happen. And keep an eye out for the Forks Comicon, coming soon! It's called RainCon - and it's happening, June 2018.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Just when I thought the Clallam Bay Comicon was over forever,the Forks Comicon* steps up and rescues it!

Evan Sveum, who runs the tiny but elegant comic shop next to Home Slice Pizza in Forks, Washington, wants to run a Forks Comicon.

He wants to learn how I run my comicon. Because of my health, I thought I couldn't do it - but with Evan there, just in case things go wonky, I can run the comicon and nobody and nothing will fall through any holes.

Evan will be like a ghost administrator - fully apprised of all situations - but not needing to activate unless something happens with my health. With him as my adjutant, it will lower my stress levels, and there will be less chance he will need to step in at all.

I've asked him to do a panel at the Clallam Bay Comicon about his own comicon in Forks. I hope he can tell us all the details as it begins to happen.

When you're in Forks, heading west, keep an eye out for Home Slice. Pizza and comics - it's a natural combination. Say hi to Evan, and let him know what you want as comics and for his show.

Wow. More than one comicon on the West End. Could it be just the beginning?

Thursday, July 27, 2017

UPDATE! The Clallam Bay Comicon has been rescued by the Forks Comicon! Go here to find out how and why we're going into our seventh year of the Clallam Bay Comicon.Original post:After a very successful Clallam Bay Comicon, I had begun procedures for time, place, guest artist, everything -

And then Monsanto and the US Army finally killed me.

(Before reading this, be assured there will be a Forks Comicon. And if you REALLY want to see me again, get your ass up here when it happens, for my insane wake party. Because there WILL be one! I'm not going to crawl off and die like dearly-missed creators - my art ain't gonna be burned! Please wear your Hallowe'en best.)

Anniston, Alabama, was listed as the most toxic place on earth. I was stationed there at Fort McClellan for basic training in 1970-71.

Monsanto settled out with the town of Anniston in 2003. The US Army was not part of that settlement - I suspect because of the badly-stored chemical weapons.*

Some of you have called the EMTs or taken me to the hospital. Invariably, the condition was listed as "anxiety attack," which is new-doctor-speak for "hysteria." When my symptoms were so obviously poisoning (one of you got me to the hospital when I actually HAD been poisoned - and the symptoms were identical).

I thought I was doing very well after the Clallam Bay Comicon. The Lion's Club hall was rented. Talks were on line for a new Forks comicon. We had a fabulous guest artist for Clallam Bay. Dan and I went for a huge walk on Hobuck beach. I felt invigorated and ready to go.

And then... things happened. Stress-points started to build up. I hit crisis point.

I can only say So Many Thanks to Kevin - an EMT who works at the Forks Outfitters - for refusing to let me simply call my husband and wait out the vomiting and convulsions and passing out for the next 18 hours. I heard him - and the EMTs he called - say repeatedly, "Her pulse is low. Her pulse is so low." I really, truly just wanted them to let me go. I started to fade, and it felt so good, after all the years of suffering and bullshit. For Dan's and the cat's sake, I'm so glad the EMT's didn't let me faint out (although I truly wanted to kill myself AND them when I was dry-horking in the back of the ambulance).

So, I don't want anybody to think this is whining. This is the bullshit thousands of vets go through every single day, from many decades, who were stationed at Fort McClellan. We can't "sue" because it would cause stress - and then it's agony in the hospital. In my case, with hereditary cardiac finally starting to bother me, it could be lethal. If you really really want to do anything for us - GET THE FUCKING RECRUITERS OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. Those people need slammed through a wall, like the health insurance CEO in The Incredibles - and for the same reasons.

So that's why I'm not running the Comicon. But I WILL mentor and assist at the Forks Comicon. I can DO that! And at a smaller convention, I could even run a table. If I can't, then there's my online bookstore, my Black Manuscripts, and social media.

I love you all dearly, and I wish I could keep doing this for you. But the robot be done, as robots do. Oh, well. It's been a good run.

Now I'm going to devote my time to Dan and my old cats, the beach, and my art. And pissing around with all of you on social media in the morning.

*Trust the Green Machine Generals' fan club to shirk its responsibilities to its play-toys (ALL fighters are like this - regardless of whose side they're on. They fight for no one but their fan club. They certainly don't fight for anybody's rights - or there would be no more FGM in the middle east).

Friday, July 21, 2017

My "Black Manuscripts" have been released by the San
Diego State UniversityLibrary's Digital Collections.

The twelve ornately-written and
-drawn art manuscripts date from the mid-1970's, when I was
drawing and writing for my own pleasure, as a self-taught artist and
writer.As is often the case for girls of the time, no publication
was ever intended. But this work led to my becoming the published author
and owner of such classic comics series as "The Desert Peach"
and "Stinz," after I was discovered by Lex Nakashima and Steve Gallacci, and published by Eclipse Comics, then Fantagraphics, and Aeon Press, among others.

Each manuscript is covered with
beading, quilting and embroidery. The subject-matter reflects my early interest in the German military - an interest that is now
shared by many girls in comics, especially after the introduction of
the theme in Japanese Manga. These books led to my study of politics of
the time - and the way society actually treats women, peoples of
color, the LGBT community, and the Jewish people, as well as the
natural world - that now informs all my work. I didn't get it right in these books - but I was starting to learn.

The project has been in the works
for over a decade. Fans of my work have been very happy that this
early, unseen work by one of their favorite authors is now available.
The art is also available for art studies, especially in
universities.

Huge thanks to the whole crew at the San Diego State Library's special collections crew, and all their fine work! As you can see, the art was degrading - and they've saved it for all to see! Here's a flip through one of the books (I'd suggest being a bit more delicate, dear - the glue is getting old!)